Oliver Glasner makes Premier League table admission after Crystal Palace smash Aston Villa to record top-half finish

Oliver Glasner admitted he did not think a top-half finish was possible when he took over from Roy Hodgson as Crystal Palace boss.

The Eagles recorded just their second top-10 Premier League finish on Sunday after a 5-0 win over Aston Villa at Selhurst Park.

Palace took the lead 10 minutes into the game when Michael Olise spotted a run from Jean-Philippe Mateta and the French forward netted his 17th goal of the season in all competitions.

Mateta doubled Palace’s lead in the 39th minute when he turned home Daniel Munoz’s cross along the face of goal.

Eberechi Eze wrapped up three points early at the start of the second half when he picked up the ball on the egde of the box and smashed an effort beyond the outstreteched Robin Olsen.

Mateta recorded his first Premier League hat-trick in the 63rd minute when he received a pass from Eze inside the area and calmly slotted past Olsen.

The French forward turned provider for Eze with a sublime backheel and the Greenwich-born attacker took aim from distance to drill an effort beyond Villa’s back-up keeper.

Palace, who were 11 points off the top half of the table and five points away from the drop zone when Glasner arrived, finished the season with a seven-game unbeaten run under the ex-Wolfsburg boss and jumped above Brighton and Bournemouth to reach the top 10.

“No,” admitted Glasner when asked if it was an ambition when he arrived at Selhurst Park.

“I didn’t focus on the table – never.

“From the first days, I focused and concentrated on the team and the players – on what we needed to win games. 

“Thank you to the players, staff and all the members of the club for supporting and trusting us.

“I know we won the game first game 3-0, but we had six games with no win at the time. 

“They were positive and really worked hard. Now we all get the rewards.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD